Crucial Southampton star says he won’t leave club unless given assurances about role

Early in March Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo pondered that Oriol Romeu could be a good option for Barcelona, given his ‘Barca DNA’. It was suggested that Romeu could be seen as a long term replacement for Sergio Busquets, but the claims made little sense.

Busquets is 28 years of age, only 3 years older than the Southampton midfielder, so there’s little need to be rushing in a replacement. Mundo Deportivo’s article was merely an idea, but the English media grabbed hold of it and turned it into something it never was.

That’s filtered its way back to Spain, so much so that Mundo Deportivo have now actually spoken to the Southampton player and asked him about a potential Barcelona return.

“No one called me but I understand that the pivot is a difficult situation to strengthen. I know nothing, but it is a compliment to talk about me and Barca. I do not know if this is true or not, but it ‘s always good to be talked about.”

If it were true then Romeu wouldn’t return to Barcelona to simply warm the bench, and told Mundo Deportivo: “It is very difficult to be a substitute for such a good player, it would be very complicated because now Busquets is number one. I am happy at Southampton and would have to study everything if need be. I do not want to experience again being in a big club and not playing.

“I would not leave Southampton just to leave, but because a club really bets on me and considers me important in their project.”

Barcelona are hardly going to call Romeu and tell him that Busquets is going to be the bench warmer and he’ll be the star, so a Southampton stay looks the more sensible option.